Biography
Mimoza Keka is a classical pianist with refined artistry, known for her solo recitals, chamber music performances, and collaborative projects. Critics have praised her interpretations for their imaginative depth, technical mastery, and emotional expression:
“Her performance is distinguished by a clear and creative imagination, with precisely crafted dynamics, articulation, rhythm, and an exceptionally well-built pianistic technique…” – the Doctoral Comittee of the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, 2021
“Keka fascinates with her emotional and physical strength, her volcanic nature – an obvious pillar on which she overcomes Liszt’s genius artistic challenges with an inexplicably effortless approach.” – from the Golden Lyre Festival in Skopje, 2017.
Her repertoire spans a wide range of styles, from Baroque to contemporary music, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to exploring diverse musical traditions. In 2022, she released her solo album Non-Fungible, featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Alexander Scriabin, and Samuel Barber. Mimoza earned her PhD in Musical Arts at the age of 26. Her dissertation, “The Use of Digital Technologies in Quantitative Analysis of Piano Performance,” was recognized for its originality and interdisciplinary significance. Within, she gave premiere performances of Samuel Barber’s Sonata Op. 26, Maurice Ravel’s Miroirs, and Leoš Janáček’s In the Mists, earning acclaim for her compelling interpretations.
Mimoza’s artistic journey has been shaped by guidance from distinguished musicians, including Maestra Lilya Zilberstein, under whose mentorship she obtained her Master of Arts Diploma. As a soloist, she has collaborated with orchestras, distinguished herself in solo and chamber music performances, and participated in prestigious international festivals including Siena Summer Festival, Ohrid Summer Festival, Francophone Festival Soleil, Days of Macedonian Music, Golden Lyre Festival, Autumn Musical Festivities. Her career includes engagements across Europe (Paris, Rome, Prague, Bristol, Milano, Trieste, Siena, Punta Ala, Sovicille, Sozopol, Istanbul) and the United States (New York City), establishing her presence as a globally recognized artist.
A leader in forward-thinking innovation, Dr. Keka has managed and participated in several classical music projects promoting the works of Macedonian composers and supporting charitable causes. Mimoza Keka has collaborated with distinguished conductors, including Sasha Nikolovski-Gjumar, under whose baton she performed Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2. She has also worked extensively with appointed conductors at the Faculty of Music in Skopje, contributing to numerous projects and concerts with the Chamber and Symphonic Orchestra of the Faculty. Additionally, she served as an artistic collaborator for the Opera Studio program, supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate students in their operatic training. She has also received numerous top prizes at international piano competitions among which “Pietro Argento”, “Giovanni Talenti San Bartolomeo”, laureate at “Akordeon Art Plus” as well as five times first prize winner at the national piano competition in N. Macedonia.
Based in Munich, Germany, Mimoza continues to develop her artistic vision, engaging audiences through performances and contributing to the world of classical music as a performer, researcher, and educator.
Quotes
“Her performance is characterized by a clear and creative imagination, with precisely developed dynamics, articulation, rhythm, and an exceptionally well-developed pianistic technique…”
- The Doctoral Committee of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Music – Skopje. (June 1, 2021).
“Congratulations to Mimoza Keka, a true orchestral artist, for a highly professional and inspiring concert that fully captured all the nuances of the vocal ensemble—the combination of timbres, emotions, intonation, artistry—as well as the great professional challenge.”
- Prof. PhD Viktorija Kolarovska Gmirja (June 2022)
“Unique concert by pianist Mimoza Keka”
- Ohrid Summer Festival (August 2023)
“Chamber cohesion on stage”
- Skopje Philharmonic (June 2023)
“Pianist Keka created an emotional evening with her music.”
- Anadolu Agency (August 2023)
“Keka fascinates with the emotional and physical strength that clearly gives her the greatest power to confidently handle highly demanding works—this time with the imposing Sonata in B Minor by the great Franz Liszt… which she masters with an inexplicably effortless approach to Liszt’s brilliant artistic nature.”
“..This sublime artistic act of visibly revealing a highly detailed musical score was evident for Mimoza Keka. With her own artistic fanaticism, she mastered Liszt’s grand challenge—the fearsome Sonata in B Minor, a piece even experienced piano masters tend to avoid due to its immense difficulty in performance.”
- Naumova Tomovska, V. (October 2017). Music critic at the Association of Music Artists SMUM. Skopje: Golden Lyre Festival, Music Society Press.
Mimoza participated in a series of masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Alexei Volodin and Alexander Ghindin and completed her training at prestigious music academies, including the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, under the guidance of the world-renowned pianist Maestra Lilya Zilberstein from 2015 to 2017.